Testimony
Posted on Friday, June 6, 2008State Foresters and their staff have provided oral and written testimony to Congress, federal agencies and other organizations on behalf of NASF concerning a number of forestry-related issues.
NASF FY12 Appropriations Recommendations for USDA Forest Service (May 17, 2011)
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011NASF supplied written public testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies regarding Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 appropriations recommendations.
AR State Forester Shannon on USDA Forest Service planning rule (May 5, 2011)
Posted on Friday, May 6, 2011NASF provided comments to the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry regarding the USDA Forest Service Proposed Rulemaking for a new National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. State Foresters have a strong interest in the planning rule given the threat of wildfire and insect and disease outbreaks that face the national forest system also pose risks to adjacent forest land owned and managed by states, tribes, forest industry, families and other owners.
AR State Forester Shannon on NASF's FY12 appropriations recommendations (April 1, 2011)
Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011NASF appreciates the opportunity to submit written public testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies regarding our Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 appropriations recommendations. Our priorities center on appropriations for the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) State and Private Forestry (S&PF) programs. As states face the most challenging fiscal environment since the Great Depression, State Foresters fully appreciate the difficult choices that come with spending decisions. We therefore recommend that FY12 appropriations for S&PF be held at $306 million, representing similar funding levels enacted in FY10.
MD State Forester Koehn on NASF's FY11 appropriations recommendations (Mar. 19, 2010)
Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010Our priorities for Interior appropriations center on the USDA Forest Service agency appropriation for State and Private Forestry (S&PF) programs, with a particular emphasis on Forest Inventory and Analysis, State Fire Assistance, Cooperative Forest Health, Forest Stewardship and Urban and Community Forestry. The total NASF recommendation for S&PF is $355 million, representing a 15% increase over the FY2010 enacted levels.
KY State Forester MacSwords on the FLAME Act and fire suppression funding (July 21, 2009)
Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009I am proud to be representing the Partner Caucus on Fire Suppression Funding Solutions - a unique and diverse group of organizations dedicated to finding a new mechanism for funding emergency fire suppression activities for the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior land management agencies. We have developed two recommendations towards a solution. The first recommendation is to create a partitioned wildfire suppression account to fund emergency fires. Our second recommendation is to replace the 10-year rolling average with a more predictive and statistical modeling approach.
MD State Forester Koehn on future of America's forests (June 3, 2009)
Posted on Thursday, June 4, 2009Subcommittee discussion of the future of forest policy in the United States. Our testimony will highlight the vital role our forests play as a strategic national resource that will continue to ensure water quality and quantity, provide renewable energy, mitigate climate change and allow wildlife to adapt to new habitats. I will also address the importance of markets for traditional forest products as well as for "ecosystem services" in ensuring that the nation's forests provide environmental services today and for future generations.
KY State Forester MacSwords on FY2010 U.S. Forest Service appropriations (April 23, 2009)
Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2009House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior hearing on FY2010 appropriations -- The total NASF recommendation for S&PF is $335 million, representing a 26% increase over the 2009 enacted levels. NASF also recommends a modest investment of $10 million in the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.
AZ State Forester Christiansen on potential wildfire solutions (April 1, 2009)
Posted on Wednesday, April 1, 2009Hearing on Options for Wildfire Suppression Funding: Addressing wildland fire is a much larger, more complex land management and societal issue that cannot be solved by one agency or piece of legislation alone. Solving the impact of skyrocketing fire suppression costs is only one piece of the puzzle, but it is one that is within our reach.
KY State Forester MacSwords before House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior (February 24, 2009)
Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior hearing regarding Government Accountability Office observations on a possible move of the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior.
